Follower for filing cabinets



July 11, 193 A. c. STRAYER FOLLOWER FOR mum CABINETS Original Filed Nov. 12, 1938 Patented July 11, 1939 261 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE FOLLOWER FOR FILING CABINETS Arthur Strayer, Beaver, Pa.

Original application November 12, 1938, Serial No. 240,136. Divided and this application January 26, 1939, Serial No. 253,007

3 Claims. (01. 12931) This invention relates to a follower for a filing are spaced from the adjacent portions of the cabinet, and it is an object of the invention to side walls 2 whereby is provided downwardly facprovide a follower or support for application ing trackways 4 for the support or follower S.

within a drawer comprised in the cabinet and As herein comprised the support or follower S 5 wherein the support or follower when in applied embodies a body plate 5 of a width to fit substan- 5 position requires but little space. tially snug transversely within the drawer D. The

It is also an object of the invention to provide marginal portions of this body plate 5 are defined a follower or support for application within a by the rearwardly directed bottom flange 6, side drawer of a filing cabinet and wherein the folflanges l and top flange 8, said flange B being.

lower or support and the side walls of the drawer preferably of a reverted type. These flanges 6, l 10 are so constructed and arranged to provide means and 8 assure the support or follower S having whereby the follower or support may be readily requisite strength and rigidity while the side applied or removed and when in applied position flanges I provide means for the proper securing may be readily shifted within the drawer as reof the retaining plates 9. The plates 9 are each 16 quired. of a height substantially equal to the height of 1,5

The invention consists in the details of com a side wall 2 and of a length less than the distance struction and in combination and arrangement of between the bottom wall I of the drawer D and the several parts of my improved follower for a the lower marginal portions of the flanges 3. Difiling cabinet whereby certain important advanagonally opposed corner portions of each ofthe 2o tages are attained and the device rendered simplates 9 are rounded, as at These u ded 20 pler, less expensive and otherwise more conveniedges ID are outwardly disposed and each is prefent and advantageous for use, as will be hereinerably described on an arc of about the approxiafter more fully set forth. mate axial center of the plate 9. p I The novel features of my invention will here- The plate 5 is secured between the plates 9 on inafter be definitely claimed. a predetermined rearward angle with respect to 25 In order that my invention may be the better the longitudinal axes of the plate 9 so that when understood, I will now proceed to described the the support or follower S is in applied or working same with reference to the accompanying drawposition within the drawer D, the plate 5 will be ing, wherein: disposed on an upward and rearward incline to Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken thru facilitate transfer of records or facilitate access 30 a filing cabinet having applied thereto a support to the records within the drawer D in advanceof or follower constructed in accordance with an the follower or support S. embodiment of my invention; In applying the support or follower S it is first Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view taken subplaced within the drawer D with the plate 5 forstantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 with the wardly directed and the longitudinal axes of the 35 casing omitted; plates 9 at right angles to the bottom wall of the Figure 3 is a view partly in section and partly drawer D as illustrated in Figure 4. In this posiin elevation showing the support or follower in tion the plates 9 will be positioned entirely bean intermediate position when either applying low the flanges 3 and upon swinging the plate 5 40 or removing the same; upwardly as indicated in Figure 3, the lower 40 Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showrounded corners of the plates 9 will rock upon ing the follower in its first position when being the bottom wall I of the drawer and the upper applied or in its final position when being remarginal portions of the plate 9 enter the trackmoved. ways 4 until the plate 5 assumes its full or ef- As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, C fective working position as illustrated in Figure 1. 45 denotes a casing with which is associated a slid- In removing the support or follower S the reverse ing drawer D, said casing C and drawer D being operation is employed. of a type as particularly described and claimed The plates 9 may be secured to the side flanges in my pending application Serial No. 240,136 filed I of the plate 5 in any desired manner but pref- November 12, 1938, of which the present applicaerably by spot welding, as indicated at II. The 5 tion is a division. plate 5 is of a size to extend a desired distance The drawer D includes a bottom wall I and above the side walls 2 when the support or folthe side walls 2. The upper marginal portions lower is in working position and this support or of the side walls 2 are returned to provide the follower S may be slid into any desired position internal depending flanges 3. These flanges 3 along the drawer D. 55

In shifting the support or follower S it is preferred that the plate 5 be substantially vertically disposed or arranged at right angles to the bottom wall I of the drawer D as illustrated in Figure 3. When the plate 5 is in its rearward slanting position as illustrated in Figure 1, it is effectively locked in such position under the cam action against the upper portion of the plate 5 by the papers or the likeplaced within the drawer for filing.

To facilitate the entrance of the upper portion of each of the plates 9 within its trackway 4, said upper portion of the plate 9 is outwardly offset, as at I2, (see Figure 2). It is also to be stated that the upper oifset portion l2 of each of the plates 9 is free from the plate 5 or more-particularly the adjacent flange 7 thereof. This separation of the upper portions of the plates 5 allows for expansion as when the drawer D is overloaded the side walls 2 have a tendency to expand. However, when the support or follower, as herein disclosed, is under such expansion the plates9 will sway out with the side walls 2 without disengaging from the trackways i.

It is to be particularly pointed out that the support or follower S as comprised herein is one which is not a permanent part of the drawer D; requires but little space when in applied position; readily slides into any position desired along the drawer; and readily locks itself in any desired selective position.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a follower for a filing cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a drawer having side walls provided along their upper portions with downwardly facing trackways, a follower for said drawer comprising a plate to fit transversely within the drawer, side plates secured to the lower portion of the first plate, said side plates each being of a length less than the distance between the bottom of the drawer and the trackways and of a height substantially equal to the height of the side walls of the drawer, diagonally opposed corners of the side plates being rounded, said side plates being free of the trackways when the follower is within the drawer and the first named plate disposed lengthwise oi the drawer, the upper marginal portions of the side plates engaging within the trackways when the first named plate is swung upwardly.

-2.In combination with a drawer having side walls provided along their upper portions with downwardly facing trackways, a follower for said drawer comprising a plate to fit transversely within the drawer, side plates secured to the lower portion of the first plate, said side plates each being of a length less than the distance between the bottom of the drawer and the trackways" and of a height substantially equal to the height of the side walls of the drawer, diagonally opposed corners of the side plates being rounded, said side plates being free of the trackways when the follower is within the drawer and the first named plate disposed lengthwise of the drawer, the upper marginal portions of the side plates engaging within the trackways when thefirst named plate is swung upwardly, the rounded cor-- ners of the side plates being described about substantially the axial centers of the side plates. 3. In combination with a drawer having side walls provided along their upper portions with downwardly facing trackways, a follower for said drawer comprising a plate to fit transversely within the drawer, side plates secured to the lower portion of the first plate, said side plates each being of a length less than the distance between the bottom of the drawer and the trackways and of a height substantially equal to the height of the side walls of the drawer, diagonally opposed corners of the side plates being rounded, said side plates being free of the trackways when the follower is within the drawer and the first named plate disposed lengthwise of the'drawer, the upper marginal portions of the side plates engaging within the trackways when the first named plate is swung upwardly, the upper portions of the side plates being free of connection with the first named plate.

' ARTHUR C. STRAYER. 

